By Jones, N., Baird, S., Presler-Marshall, E., Maachowska, A., Kilburn, K., Abu Hamad, B., Essaid, A., Amaireh, W., Sajdi, J., Banioweda, K., Alabbadi, T., Alheiwidi, S., Ashareef, Q., Altal, S., Kharabsheh, W., Abu Taleb, H., Abu Azzam, M. and Abu Hammad, B.

Introduction

Situated at the crossroads of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Jordan has a long history of hosting the regions refugees. Beginning with Palestine refugees in 1948, followed by Iraqi refugees in the 1990s and, since 2011, accepting hundreds of thousands of Syrians fleeing both drought and civil war, it is estimated that of Jordans approximately 10 million inhabitants, 1 in 3 is a refugee. Of those, more than 2 million are Palestinian (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), 2019b), just over 660,000 are Syrian, and nearly 100,000 are from Iraq, Yemen and Sudan (UNHCR, 2019). While the country is ranked high in terms of human development (United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 2019), Jordan has faced significant economic and social challenges in seeking to absorb its large refugee population. Its public schools, many of which are running double-shift, cannot meet demand and the country faces severe and escalating water shortages. The labour market is also struggling to keep up with the burgeoning population. It is estimated that the real unemployment rate is twice that of the officially reported rate of 15% (CIA World Factbook, 2019; World Bank, 2019b).

Jordans refugee populations are especially vulnerable. While most Palestine refugees have been granted full citizenship, which affords them the same rights and services as other Jordanian citizens, the nearly 20% who remain living in refugee camps (especially those originally from Gaza) are legally barred from doing many types of work, which means they have a poverty rate approaching one-third (31%) (Tiltnes and Zhang, 2013; Palestinian Return Centre, 2018). Jordans Syrian refugees of whom approximately 85% live in urban host communities and 15% live in one of two formal camps are in many ways even more vulnerable, despite assistance from the international community. Approximately 85% live below the Jordanian poverty line (UNHCR, 2018).

Girls and women face additional gender-related barriers, due to social norms and laws that position them as second-class citizens. The Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ranks Jordan as very high in terms of gender inequality, and notes that womens rights within the family and access to civil liberties are particularly limited (OECD, 2019b). The World Bank (2019b) reports that womens labour force participation rates in Jordan are among the lowest in the world, while the World Economic Forum (WEF, 2018) notes that Jordans ranking in terms of womens economic opportunity has dropped significantly from 105th to 144th in the past decade.

This report draws on baseline evidence from GAGE (Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence) a unique longitudinal mixed-methods research and impact evaluation study focused on what works to support the development of adolescents capabilities during the second decade of life (1019 years). Recognising that the transformations that take place during adolescence are second only to those experienced in infancy and early childhood in terms of their scope and speed, and that the current generation of adolescents (1.2 billion) is the largest ever, the development community is increasingly focused on how to capitalise on the window of opportunity that is adolescence, to reap a triple dividend: for adolescents today, for their adult trajectories, and for their children.

GAGE brings to this global movement a focus on gender. Our starting point is that adolescent transitions often shape lives in highly gendered ways, due to the prevailing norms of socio-cultural environments. These norms especially around sexuality start to become more rigidly enforced and more consequential in early adolescence, forcing girls and boys trajectories to diverge as they approach adulthood. Understanding this divergence, and tailoring programme interventions accordingly, is critical if we are to fast-track social change.

Drawing on GAGEs mixed-methods research in Jordan, this report synthesises findings about adolescent girls and boys capabilities across six key domains: (1) education and learning; (2) health, nutrition, and sexual and reproductive health (SRH); (3) bodily integrity and freedom from violence; (4) psychosocial well-being; (5) voice and agency; and (6) economic empowerment. It concludes with policy and programming implications viewed through a multidimensional capability lens.

GAGE framing and methods

Conceptual framing

GAGEs conceptual framework takes a holistic approach that pays careful attention to the interconnectedness of what we call the 3 Cs capabilities, contexts, and change strategies to understand what works to support adolescent girls and boys development and empowerment, now and in the future (see Figure 1). This framing draws on the three components of Pawson and Tilleys (1997) approach to evaluation, which highlights the importance of outcomes, causal mechanisms and contexts. However, we tailor that approach to the specific challenges of understanding what works in improving adolescent girls and boys capabilities.

The first building block of our conceptual framework is capability outcomes. Championed originally by Amartya Sen (1984; 2004), and nuanced to better capture complex gender dynamics at intra-household and societal levels by Martha Nussbaum (2011) and Naila Kabeer (2003), the capabilities approach has evolved as a broad normative framework exploring the kinds of assets (economic, human, political, emotional and social) that expand the capacity of individuals to achieve valued ways of doing and being. Importantly, the approach can encompass relevant investments in girls and boys with diverse trajectories, including the most marginalised and hardest to reach, such as those who have a disability or girls who are already mothers.

The second building block of our conceptual framework is context. Our 3 Cs framework situates girls and boys ecologically, recognising that their capability outcomes are highly dependent on family or household, community, state and global contexts.

The third and final building block of our conceptual framework acknowledges that girls and boys contextual realities can be mediated by a range of change strategies, including: empowering individual adolescents; supporting parents; engaging with men and boys on gender inequalities; sensitising community leaders; enhancing adolescent-responsive services; and addressing system-level deficits.

Research questions

Stemming from our conceptual framework, there are three sets of questions that are central to GAGEs research.They focus on:

adolescent experiences and the ways in which these are gendered and also differ according to adolescents economic, social and geographical positioning;

the ways in which programmes and services address adolescent vulnerabilities and support the development of their full capabilities; and

the strengths and weaknesses of programme design and implementation in terms of ensuring programme efficacy, scale and sustainability.

At baseline, we are focusing on the first two questions. We will explore the third question in more detail during subsequent rounds of research currently scheduled for 2019/2020 and 2021/2022.

Research sample and methodology

GAGE is using both quantitative and qualitative methods to explore these research questions. Our baseline data was collected between mid-2018 and early 2019 and included a survey of nearly 4,000 adolescents and their caregivers. We also conducted in-depth individual interviews with 240 young people and their caregivers, held focus group discussions with adolescents, with parents and with community leaders, and conducted key informant interviews with service providers, governmental and nongovernmental stakeholders.

Research sample overview

GAGE research sites were informed by two complementary considerations: (1) a review of existing data and evidence on adolescents and gender in Jordan, which highlighted where the evidence base is especially thin (see Presler-Marshall et al., 2017; Presler-Marshall, 2018); and (2) the design of UNICEF Jordans integrated adolescent and youth programme for vulnerable girls and boys, through which we are exploring questions related to change strategies (as per the GAGE conceptual framework) and how they shape the development trajectories of adolescents from refugee and host communities alike.

GAGE is working in five governorates in Jordan Amman, Mafraq, Irbid, Zarqa and Jerash where most of the Syrian refugee population live. In order to explore the complexity of adolescent realities in refugee and host communities, we spread our sample across three very different contexts: host communities , informal tented settlements (ITSs), and United Nations (UN) refugee camps (see map in Annex 1). Recognising that recent attention has been focused on the Syrian population, and that Jordans Palestinian population is increasingly invisible to development actors, we have also included the ex-Gazan Palestinian population in Jerash refugee camp, which has high rates of child marriage and is particularly disadvantaged economically and socially due to residents lacking national identity documents.

To understand the effects of UNICEFs programming especially its Makani centres (see Annex 2) it was important that our sample included participants and non-participants. For participants, we were able to select adolescents using data from UNICEFs Bayantati (Our Data) database. For non-participants, we undertook a twostep process. In host communities, to minimise differences between the participant and non-participant sample, we selected adolescents whose families were either receiving UNICEFs Hajati cash transfer for vulnerable households, or those who were eligible but due to resource constraints were still on the waiting list (as of mid-2018). In the camps, because there is no equivalent cash transfer programme, we relied on the Refugee Assistance Information System (RAIS) of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and selected adolescents from families with similar vulnerability scores.

Our final quantitative sample consisted of 4,000 adolescents, equally split by sex (girls and boys) and by age cohort (younger adolescents aged 1012 years, and older adolescents aged 1517 years). Because sampling was based on household vulnerability, and refugee households are more vulnerable than Jordanian households, our sample is tilted towards refugees (with 15% Jordanians) (see Table 1 and 2 for details) (Baird et al., 2018). In line with the mandate of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to leave no one behind, we also deliberately over sampled some groups of especially marginalised young people, including those with disabilities and girls who were (or had been) married. Our qualitative sample, which consisted of 240 adolescents, was purposively selected out of the larger sample (for more details on the research methods and research ethics, see Jones et al., 2018).

Read the full report, executive summary, and executive summary in Arabic

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Adolescent well-being in Jordan: Exploring gendered capabilities, contexts and change strategies - A synthesis report on GAGE Jordan baseline findings...

It should come as no surprise thatMichael Jordans impactstretches well beyond the basketball court. Athletes, entertainers, and ordinary people around the world look at Jordan for inspiration across all walks.One of these fans is Kevin Hart.

Hart, who prides himself on his hard work drive to always get better, recently sat down with Joe Rogan on his podcast to discuss the impact that Jordan had on his life.

Hart might be known to the casual audience as the loud, funny leading man of several comedies and television shows. While this is true, he did not get to where he is by chance. Comedy, like sports, is a competitive field in its own right, and reaching Harts status requires an equal amount of talent and savvy in getting his name out there.

Hart isnt just a comedian; after all, he.is a media mogul, an entrepreneur, and an innovator in many ways. Seeing somebody like Michael Jordan, who showed that athletes could become a brand unto themselves, likely played dividends in getting Hart to where he is today, and it shows.

Hart is always thinking ahead about what he can do on camera, on the stage, and wherever else hes needed.

He spoke on this to Rogan.

RELATED: Joe Rogans Classic American Muscle Car Set Him Back Over $100k

Speaking aboutThe Last Dancedocumentary with Rogan, Hart, who once famously madeJordan angry with his jabs at a charity event (per NESN), was taken aback byhow otherworldly Jordan seemson and off the court. Amazed, he beamed about what it was like to see a man reach Jordans heights the way he did.

Hes an alien, Hart told the podcast host. Hes one of us. Hes one of those aliens [that] other aliens identify with.

To outsiders and people who never had to reach a Jordan or hart level, Jordans career seems as unlikely as getting superpowers or winning the lottery. However, for Hart, it gives him a benchmark for what he can aspire to be, even as his name grows bigger across the globe.

What this shows you is how different MJ was. That man was a f**ing winner. He was a winner. And thats it. Thats it. MJ won. There is no other conversation. When you watch this doc, and you watched how he approached his days, and why he approached it, and the things that he did, and his reason for doing them, and ultimately what he did, and what his priority and what his goals were, you go, F***.

This is nothing new to those who paid attention. Kobe Bryant was notorious for looking up at Jordan not just as the greatest basketball player ever, but one of the greatest workers.

Just because the diminutive Hart cant go out there and win NBA championships, however, it doesnt mean that he cant use Jordan as inspiration in his field.

Jordan goes beyond sports. While other athletes like Tiger Woods, LeBron James, Serena Williams, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Tom Brady have become international games, none have done so at the level Jordan did. No one ever calls somebody the Tiger Woods of baseball, football, or basketball. They almost always call somebody at the peak of a sport the Michael Jordan of whatever it is.

Hart might be a multi-millionaire celebrity now, but in the 1990s, he was another young man who watched Jordan ascend from NBA All-Star to a worldwide juggernaut. It makes sense, looking back, that Hart could see a man like that and grow inspired to use his methods in another world. Harts story is the story of a lot of people around the world.

This is what separates Jordan from every other athlete in history, and he will likely do so for many years to come, as well.

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Kevin Hart Tried to Explain Michael Jordan's Greatness to Joe Rogan - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Weston Kay stands in front of a brick backdrop wearing a pair of oversized glasses, a denim shirt, and a patchy beard while brandishing a razor in hand and says, "It's time to put an end to all the speculation and cut these Shattered Backboard Jordans in half to see if the leather quality's that good.and if they're worth the $1,000 I paid for them."

Kay, who runs the leather goods brand Rose Anvil and YouTube page of the same name, has gained notoriety for cutting apart sneakers on the internet to inspect the quality of the product. He's inspected the aforementioned Air Jordan 1s, as well as a pair of lesser-quality Air Jordan 1 mids, Air Force 1s, Common Projects, Vans, and more. And he's found out whether the sneakers are good or poor in quality and amassed nearly 200,000 subscribers in the process.

"I make wallets, belts and our biggest selling thing is camera harnesses for photographers," says Kay, who is located in northern Utah, where he says there is no sneaker culture, aside from a skate shop in town. "I'm not a cobbler, I'm just a general leather worker."

Kay's videos have drawn interest mainly for two reasons: first, nearly every person with an above average interest in sneakers pays attention to quality, and second, there's something very Good Internet about cutting a sneaker in half.

His videos show that cheaper shoes, such as an Air Jordan 1 Mid, aren't even made out of real leather, while the "Shattered Backboard" Air Jordan 1s are constructed of higher-quality leather in parts of the shoe.

"I'm kind of ignorant to the whole hype game and what's hot," says Kay. "I go in fairly blind to the cultural significance of shoes and what people think of shoes. It makes it easier for me to stay unbiased and look at it from a real world sense without being swayed by hype."

The Common Projects Achilles, which retails for over $400, has long been touted as "the only sneaker you'll ever need" by men's style experts who don't know much about sneakers. It's an all-white sneaker made in Italy and renowned for its quality. Kay deconstructed a pair of these and found out quite the opposite was true.

"It really surprised me that that was one that I kind of fell victim to the hype behind it. I heard in my comment sections, online, and just throughout my life that Common Projects were this ultra high-quality sneaker," says Kay. "I was expecting something a little bit more like a boot out of them, like full leather and a lot higher quality. They ended up just being an average shoe. It was a little bit overpriced."

In his video, Kay found out the shoes were made out of "chrome-tanned leather," which is a leather made from a cheaper process than vegetable-tanned leather. He also found out that shoes have a softer sole than Vans or Converse, which means it will wear down faster.

When it came time to dissect the Shattered Backboards, Kay says he felt hesitant. He's not the first person to destroy a sneaker online, although many have done so without the purpose of actually learning about the shoe, rather lighting it on fire or dipping it in fudge for Instagram likes or YouTube views.

"That's a lot of people's holy grail shoes and then they just see some guy cutting it apart on YouTube," says Kay about the Shattered Backboards. "A lot of people were really interested and a lot of people were upset."

He found that the toebox leather on the shoe, which is perceived to be some of the best Jordan has ever put out, was a "pretty good leather for the price." The black leather that's on the toe and heel, Kay says, was a "cheap" leather without grain. Given the $160 retail price on the sneakers, Kay was impressed.

"They're far from really high quality," he says. "They're decent quality for a sneaker."

As far as leather quality in sneakers, goes Kay says many are average, and there may be several factors that cause that. "I think it's planned obsolescence," says Kay. "I also think that when you get these big companies, you have so many people that are trying to make a buck all the way up the corporate ladder. It's all about the bottom line, and they know their shoes are gonna sell no matter what. I think companies are trying to make more money. I think they want people to buy shoes more often."

As far as the future of the channel goes, Kay says he's interested in dissecting an original 1985 Air Jordan 1, although he admits it's probably too expensive. He's also had unnamed boot companies mad at him for exposing what's in their products. Through the whole process, Kay admits that he's gotten a few things wrong (which has been called out by the commenters).

What the future holds for Kay, as far as YouTube goes, remains unknown, but he's going along with it and seeing where it takes him.

"I never intended to be a guy that cuts shoes and boots and half on YouTube. It's funny, right?" says Kay. "It makes me appreciate the sneakers a lot more. It's just really fun seeing what people are paying and how much hype dictates quality in that world."

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Meet the Leather Expert That's Ripping Apart $1,000 Air Jordans - Complex

UConn will have three scholarships opening next spring, with forwards Tyler Polley, Josh Carlton and Isaiah Whaley all in their senior years. Diggins and Hawkins account for two, and could be the replacements if Bouknight, who is appearing in mock drafts, moves on to the NBA. UConns next recruiting target will probably be a frontcourt player, such as Samson Johnson, 6-10, who played with Adama Sanogo at the Patrick School in New Jersey. Once UConn fills the three spots, Hurley and his staff will be able to wait and see how the season plays out and what additional needs they will have from the Class of 2021. The nationwide recruiting battle has been brewing for 7-0 Bristol Central center Donovan Clingan, clearly a top UConn priority in the Class of 2022.

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Meet Jordan Hawkins: Heres what to know about the newest UConn mens basketball recruit - Hartford Courant

During these uncertain times just a month before the scheduled beginning of an NFL uncertain season, versatility is more important than ever.

Moments before 49ers right tackle Mike McGlinchey followed teammate Arik Armstead to the podiumfor the start of his briefing with Bay Area reporters, McGlinchey took ahold of a spray bottle and rag.

Typically, a staff member disinfects the area in the auditorium at Levi's Stadium between interviews. On Monday, McGlinchey insisted on doing the chore himself.

Its going to be important this season for players --especially backup players --to fill a variety of roles. McGlincheys status as a starter is not in question, but he is getting into the act, too.

Versatility is going to be absolutely huge, McGlinchey said. Its going to make or break guys having jobs and make or break situations to fill our roster because we can get in any situation at any point this year that were not just looking out for injury, were looking out for something we cant really defend ourselves from at times.

To be able to plug and play guys in different positions at different times is really going to allow us to keep moving as smoothly as operationally possible.

Through Sunday, 105 players throughout the NFL have spent time on the reserve/COVID-19 list in the opening weeks of training camp. Seventy-five of those players have been activated, leaving 30 players who are unable to return to their teams practice facilities until cleared.

Both 49ers added to the list, receiver Richie James and running back Jeff Wilson, have been activated.

Teams must prepare for the possibility that they will have to come up with solutions for such problems as several players at one position going on reserve/COVID-19 at the same time. Each team is allowed to carry 16 players on their practice squads this season to help alleviate any concerns.

[49ERS INSIDER PODCAST:Listen to the latest episode]

It is reasonable to expect teams will have players on the practice squad getting familiar playing both ways. Teams will certainly have reserve defensive backs cross train at cornerback and safety. Some defensive linemen and linebackers will have to know all the spots within their position groups. And backup offensive linemen must be functional at multiple positions as insurance, too.

Two of the 49ers' newcomers fit that description, McGlinchey said.

Daniel Brunskill and Tom Compton are rotating during walk-throughs as they compete for the starting job at right guard. Brunskill started at three different positions for the 49ers last season, so he is a fit at nearly every position on the offensive line.

[RELATED:How Jimmy G, Trent Williams feel about fan-less games]

Compton is a veteran who has played right tackle and both guard positions in the course of his eight-year career.

Rookie Colton McKivitz, a fifth-round draft pick, started at left tackle and right tackle at West Virginia. He also is likely to be available to play guard for the 49ers.

Its two guys come in and compete really hard for us and give us added depth not just at the one position, but a bunch of them, McGlinchey said of Compton and McKivitz. Its going to allow us to do certain things with those guys and push other guys forward.

Link:

Armstead excited to team up with Jordan again on 49ers - Comcast SportsNet Bay Area

SALT LAKE CITY A teenager and a young child are in critical condition at Primary Childrens Hospital after a car accident late Saturday night.

According to Salt Lake City Police, a car was speeding while driving west on Indiana Avenue. As the car turned onto Delong Street, it flipped and rolled into the Jordan River Canal.

The 20-year-old driver and two juveniles escaped the car before first responders arrived.

A 15-year-old and a 2-year-old were pulled from the wreckage in the canal.

Two officers with the Salt Lake City Police Department were the first to arrive on the scene.

They jumped into the canals murky water to rescue the trapped children from the almost fully submerged car.

They jumped out of their cars and into action. Its unknown how long the juveniles were in the water at the time, said Sgt. Andrew Cluff of the Salt Lake City Police Department. With the situation being as it was, officers felt compelled to jump in and do all that they could do to get them out of the car.

Crews from Salt Lake City Fire arrived shortly after and assisted the officers in getting the children out of the water.

We are more than willing to put our lives on the line to save anyone, Cluff said. With regard to this incident, with the car completely submerged, officers were completely submerged in the car trying to get the juveniles out.

Investigators believe speed was the ultimate factor in this crash. It is unlikely the driver will face any criminal charges. The speed limit for that section of Indiana Avenue and Delong Street is 30 miles per hour.

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SLC Police and Fire crews pull children from car in Jordan River Canal - fox13now.com

The Jorda nCity Council meeting on Aug. 3 ran about three hours and 20 minutes. It ended after 10 p.m., having started at 6:30 p.m. Two councilors were not there.

When I was on the city council, and even before, there was much discussion about how long the meetings were, and what was to be done to shorten them. One of the changes made was to eliminate a second public comment session at the end of the meeting.

Back then I did a little research and learned that the two public comment periods ran an average of seven to eleven minutes combined. The council, in its wisdom decided to eliminate one public comment period.

Meetings continued to run long, Most of the length came from councilors repeating themselves ad infinitum, and debating things during council comment. Often the things being debated had been decided earlier in the meeting. Sometimes councilors brought up things for discussion which would have been more appropriately handled as an agenda item. Those ambushes deprived (and still deprive) co-councilors of an opportunity to make a reasoned response, and opposed to just knee-jerking it.

Even back then, the councilors (well, some of them anyway) wanted to behave like unruly children, talking over each other, interrupting, holding side discussions, and generally ignoring Roberts Rules, which were then the legally mandated form for conducting a council meeting in Jordan.

So here we are again, with the council having a meeting running over three hours, just like in 2011.

Roberts Rules is gone. Audience participation is all but gone. The only ones to blame for long council meeting are the councilors themselves.

So heres my suggestion. The mayor, as chair of the meeting has the power to instruct each councilor to take turns speaking, and to limit each turn to some set time (three minutes is what the council deems adequate for the unwashed masses). The chair has the power to tell the council no one will speak until each councilor has taken his or her turn, after which each councilor may take a second, time constrained turn if he or she wishes.

The mayor, as chair has the power to tell anyone (including MnDOT) their presentation may not exceed a predetermined length. Id say 10 minutes is fair.

The mayor, as chair, also has the power to table agenda items if it looks like the agenda is too long, or contains especially time consuming items (like closed session legal issues).

And finally, the chair has the power to require that councilors not discuss during council comment any topic that has been on the agenda during the meeting. Rehashing what went on earlier in the meeting is just a waste of time.

The Quote: Talk low. Talk slow. And dont say too much. -John Wayne

Thom Boncher is a retired marketing communications manager, former Jordan City Council member and Jordan resident since 2003.

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Commentary: Shades of the past at City Hall - SW News Media

Every quilt, as they say, has a story. With gold metallic thread, this one links all the way to Jordan from a dot on the map in the Pioneer Valley.

I was commissioned to make a quilt for King Abdullah II in Jordan by Bill Schenker, explains Brenda Knight, of Granby.

Schenker, who is the retired police chief in South Hadley, was among the group of law enforcement members from across Western Massachusetts who were part of a security team for Jordans king, Abdullah II, decades ago. The team provided security to the king and his brother when they attended the Eaglebrook School and Deerfield Academy.

Through the whole school year, he would guard him from Friday night through Sunday, every weekend, Knight explains. Bill got to know him really well over the years. They had him and his brother over to their home for barbecues and ball games. They are still very good friends. He went to visit him in Jordan a few times. They even went to his wedding.

More than a year ago now, Schenker thought hed like to get a quilt made for his old friends birthday. Someone mentioned Knights name, and thus began the story of the quilts creation.

Measuring a little over 7-feet square, the quilt, now en route to the king, is composed of star blocks, the colors chosen from a jelly roll which is a collection of fabric strips with complementary colors and patterns. It features tan shades that Knight says represented the desert and blues which reflect the sky. I also wanted to depict the ancient ruins (of Jordan), she added.

In the center, on a large square, were sewn the royal crown, a map of Jordan showing its major cities, and the flag of Jordan. The border and backing is royal blue, though upon close inspection there is royal purple as well.

The fabric is batik, says Knight, manufactured in Indonesia.

Once the squares were sewn together, she passed the project on to her daughter, Selena Krajewski, in Pennsylvania. Krajewski machine quilted the piece with the gold thread. She did a masterful job, said Knight. It came out very well.

Knight herself is masterful. As a child she learned to sew from her mother. She didnt pick up quilting until she was a young mother. I went to a lot of quilting classes, explains the long-time member of the Hands Across the Valley Quilters Club.

She has tried her hand at basket weaving. In addition, in her home hangs a number of paintings reflecting her love of the countryside in which she lives. She has tried oils and acrylic, but likes watercolor the best.

Quilting remains her favorite craft. Sewing I Spy quilts for the children at the Shriners Hospital gives me joy. But I was a bit stressed while working on the Kings quilt, she admits. I wanted everything to go right.

The first priority in quilting is planning. When Knight met with Schenker, she had the initial idea of something Americana, reminiscent of the kings years in New England. But Schenker had an idea of his own. How about two quilts? One to represent Deerfield Academy and the other to represent King Abdullahs new Kings Academy in Jordan?

Schenker told Knight he knew that the new academy, designed much like Deerfield and built in 2008, was close to the kings heart. That seemed a bit of a reach with Knights time constraints, so she brought quilt samples and he brought literature about Jordan. Together, they came up with a plan.

Before being sent to Jordan, the completed quilt hung in the Granby Public Library for a few hours. Many quilting friends and curious townsfolk came, said Knight.

It was the Schenkers first time seeing the completed quilt. It was emotional, she adds. I was happy that they were so pleased with it.

The quilt is en route to Jordan, where, Knight has been told, it will hang in a place of honor in a government building near the kings office.

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Jordan King Abdullah II is gifted with quilt crafted in Granby - masslive.com

Health care workers who volunteer for the National Disaster Management System usually respond to natural disasters that overwhelm health systems, like tornadoes and hurricanes. But unlike those regional disasters, workers returning from helping a hospital overwhelmed by COVID-19 find themselves attending to the same crisis when they return home.

One of those volunteers is Mike Leverson, an emergency room nurse who lives in Jordan. Twenty-four hours after Leverson returned from a month-long deployment to two southern states, he was back working extended hours to fight the virus at Minneapolis' Abbott Northwestern Hospital his home campus.

"I feel fine," Leverson said. "I am tired, but I'm not any more tired than the rest of my co-workers are and I'm certainly not as physically stressed as my new friends in Arizona and Texas."

Leverson is part of the NDMS Minnesota Disaster Medical Assistance team, a group of health care volunteers who travel across the country and set up mobile trauma units to supplement overwhelmed medical facilities.

"We usually respond to natural disasters," Leverson said. "They can deploy and respond to special eventslike the presidential inauguration. Teams were supposed to deploy to the Olympics in Japan"

Usually the team would set up a field clinic, but in the case of COVID-19, volunteers are being integrated right into hospitals.

Leverson received his first call to duty at the end of June, when NDMS was looking for nurses to deploy. The next morning he was on a plane to Arizona. He said the difference was immediately noticeable when he arrived at Tucson Medical Center.

"I could tell, from what it's like in Minnesota and the Midwest, that they were overwhelmed," Leverson said. "They were very appreciative and welcoming, but you could see signs that the system and the hospitals were overwhelmed with the amount of sick people they were seeing with COVID-19 infections."

A lack of ICU beds and ventilators were some of the first signs Leverson picked up on.

"They were running very, very short on ventilators," he said. "If there had been any more acute COVID patients that needed ventilators I guessI don't know what they would'vedone."

Like at Abbott Northwestern, the Tucson staff was working extended hours to accommodate the surge in patients, but it was still a struggle to keep up.

"They were trying to do the same thing but they just couldn't handle the patients that were coming in with those infections, so the staff was being overwhelmed," Leverson said.

After working two weeks in Tucson, Leverson headed home for one night before departing to Laredo Medical Center in Texas for another two-week stint.

"The amount of sick people (in Laredo) was greater," he said. "It stressed that hospitalsystem to a greater degree than it did in Tucson."

Leverson returned to Jordan last week and started an overnight shift back at Abbott Northwestern the following day.

"It was great to be back home," Leverson said. "You flip a switch and go right back to work."

But Leverson didn't return to Minnesota with the exact same perspective. He said traveling to and working in harder hit places, instead of watching the events unfold on TV news, helped reinforce his understanding of how critical and taxing the crisis is for the nation.

"This is still real. It's very, very real," Leverson said. "It's not going awayyet and we still need to do the things we need to do to take care of the infection and make sure it doesn't get any worse"

Leverson is a third-generation nurse and a nine-year member of the Jordan Fire Department.

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'It's very, very real': Jordan nurse helps treat COVID-19 in Texas, Arizona - SW News Media

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The sneaker industry has always been hot. Many 90s kids remember how they coveted Jordans during their grade school days as the greatest to ever do it lead the Bulls to championship after championship. Along with that winning mentality came the desire to be like Mike and that meant owning his shoes. And so a multi-million dollar industry was born, with each year bringing a hot release that collectors had to have. While the must-have shoe often differs from brand to brand, Nike and Air Jordan have always been in the mix, but it feels like its been a while since we saw a collaboration as hot as the Dior x Air Jordan 1.

Initially previewed during Diors Fall 2020 Runway show last December, the Dior x Air Jordan 1 has the same cut and look as your normal Jordan 1, but the colorway is where it really shines. The grey accents with the light blue and the ever-classic Nike swoosh emblazoned with a Dior pattern elevate these kicks to high art. But the designer take on the shoe certainly drove the price up the high top version alone is a staggering $2,200 and only 8,000 pairs were made. Made in Italy and edge-painted by hand, theyre in rarefied air thats certainly worthy of Jordan himself. Dior assembled a microsite for sneakerheads to get a chance to buy them (as is standard procedure for these kinds of high-end collabs) that was supposed to take place during the spring. However, the draw was delayeddue to the coronavirus until early July.

These kinds of splashy partnerships always draw a fair amount of attention. But I have to think even Dior was shocked by the reception. A staggering five million people entered into the raffle according to WWD. Of course, with such a limited inventory, you might have missed out on a chance to get them initially. Fortunately, for those witha lot of extra funds sitting around, resellers like StockX can give you a shot at getting them . . . for a price.

Its typical to see resellers double or triple the price of a hot sneaker when it hits the secondary market. But given the inherent rarity of these shoes, youre going to pay far more than you otherwise would have paid. As of this writing, StockX has the shoes going anywhere from $10,000 to $12,000 depending on the reseller and the size. Part of this considerable price hike is just the nature of missing out, but once you add in the rarity and the designer aspects of it, that price goes up. For those collectors who just haveto have them? Theres probably not a price they wouldnt pay to get their hands on them. If that person is you, well, consider today your lucky day.

Dior x Air Jordan 1s

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Here's Why the Dior x Air Jordan 1 is the Hottest Sneaker of 2020 - MSN Money

Will Jordan is a Pony.

The Woodlands Highlander junior committed to the legendary SMU golf program last Friday a dream come true.

"I kind of started playing a lot later than other golfers," he said. "I started playing tournament in the sixth grade and I was okay. I couldn't really tell where I was on the scale back them. By the end of last summer, I realized I could go play somewhere really good."

June 15th was the official day that college coaches could reach out to high school juniors and Jordan had options.

"SMU is somewhere I've always really loved," he said "The campus is unbelievable. It's a small, prestigious school, which fits me. The facilities are unmatched and the coaches really care about their players. SMU has had tremendous team success recently and the recruits joining me want to build something special while we are there."

With golf being one of the only sports playing during the COVID-era, Jordan will be hard at work the next two years prior to heading to Dallas.

"Sure, I'm going to try and lead The Woodlands to state, but I'm really focused on the necessary changes to my swing, my body and mentally to get prepared for the next level."

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LET'S RIDE: The Woodlands' Jordan verbals to SMU - KPRC Click2Houston

Jordan, Arab country of Southwest Asia, in the rocky desert of the northern Arabian Peninsula.

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A Study of History: Who, What, Where, and When?

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Jordan is a young state that occupies an ancient land, one that bears the traces of many civilizations. Separated from ancient Palestine by the Jordan River, the region played a prominent role in biblical history. The ancient biblical kingdoms of Moab, Gilead, and Edom lie within its borders, as does the famed red stone city of Petra, the capital of the Nabatean kingdom and of the Roman province of Arabia Petraea. British traveler Gertrude Bell said of Petra, It is like a fairy tale city, all pink and wonderful. Part of the Ottoman Empire until 1918 and later a mandate of the United Kingdom, Jordan has been an independent kingdom since 1946. It is among the most politically liberal countries of the Arab world, and, although it shares in the troubles affecting the region, its rulers have expressed a commitment to maintaining peace and stability.

The capital and largest city in the country is Ammannamed for the Ammonites, who made the city their capital in the 13th century bce. Amman was later a great city of Middle Eastern antiquity, Philadelphia, of the Roman Decapolis, and now serves as one of the regions principal commercial and transportation centres as well as one of the Arab worlds major cultural capitals.

Slightly smaller in area than the country of Portugal, Jordan is bounded to the north by Syria, to the east by Iraq, to the southeast and south by Saudi Arabia, and to the west by Israel and the West Bank. The West Bank area (so named because it lies just west of the Jordan River) was under Jordanian rule from 1948 to 1967, but in 1988 Jordan renounced its claims to the area. Jordan has 16 miles (26 km) of coastline on the Gulf of Aqaba in the southwest, where Al-Aqabah, its only port, is located.

Jordan has three major physiographic regions (from east to west): the desert, the uplands east of the Jordan River, and the Jordan Valley (the northwest portion of the great East African Rift System).

The desert region is mostly within the Syrian Desertan extension of the Arabian Desertand occupies the eastern and southern parts of the country, comprising more than four-fifths of its territory. The deserts northern part is composed of volcanic lava and basalt, and its southern part of outcrops of sandstone and granite. The landscape is much eroded, primarily by wind. The uplands east of the Jordan River, an escarpment overlooking the rift valley, have an average elevation of 2,0003,000 feet (600900 metres) and rise to about 5,755 feet (1,754 metres) at Mount Ramm, Jordans highest point, in the south. Outcrops of sandstone, chalk, limestone, and flint extend to the extreme south, where igneous rocks predominate.

The Jordan Valley drops to about 1,410 feet (430 metres) below sea level at the Dead Sea, the lowest natural point on Earths surface.

The Jordan River, approximately 186 miles (300 km) in length, meanders south, draining the waters of Lake Tiberias (better known as the Sea of Galilee), the Yarmk River, and the valley streams of both plateaus into the Dead Sea, which occupies the central area of the valley. The soil of its lower reaches is highly saline, and the shores of the Dead Sea consist of salt marshes that do not support vegetation. To its south, Wadi al-Arabah (also called Wadi al-Jayb), a completely desolate region, is thought to contain mineral resources.

In the northern uplands several valleys containing perennial streams run west; around Al-Karak they flow west, east, and north; south of Al-Karak intermittent valley streams run east toward Al-Jafr Depression.

The countrys best soils are found in the Jordan Valley and in the area southeast of the Dead Sea. The topsoil in both regions consists of alluviumdeposited by the Jordan River and washed from the uplands, respectivelywith the soil in the valley generally being deposited in fans spread over various grades of marl.

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Jordan | History, Population, Flag, Map, & Facts | Britannica

SALT LAKE CITY At one point during Fridays game between the Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs in Orlando, Florida, Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson felt like he was playing a little bit too fast, a little bit too aggressive.

Perhaps that admission can be seen as a significant one from Clarkson, who is known for always trying to look for his own shot sometimes too selfishly so but he did have a bigger responsibility on his shoulders against the Spurs than he typically does, and he was feeling the burden.

With the Jazz playing minus every starter except Joe Ingles, Clarkson became really the sole player who was capable of creating offense. There was no Donovan Mitchell or Mike Conley to lighten the load.

I definitely was trying to be a little bit more aggressive, make plays for my teammates, stuff like that, he said afterward.

In that moment, Utah head coach Quin Snyder took Clarkson aside and told him to trust his teammates and trust the plays they were running. Whether that conversation was the key or not can be debated, but Clarkson wound up with 24 points on a solid 8-of-18 from the field, including 4-of-9 from behind the 3-point line.

It marked the second straight game in Orlando in which Clarkson has produced well after struggling mightily in the Jazzs first two contests at Disney World (on Wednesday he scored 14 points against Memphis on 6-of-14 shooting after going 6-for-30 in the first two games).

What has changed over the last two games for Clarkson, who was traded to Utah last Christmastime in exchange for Dante Exum?

Just trying to find a comfort level, he said. Weve been off for a little while (before Orlando). Just coming in here and getting a feel for games, the environment, new rotations, everything. For me, its just trying to feel it out right now. I feel like thats what these eight (seeding) games are really about, us finding ourselves during this time.

While Clarkson is trying to regain a comfort level that he clearly had on the court during the two-and-a-half months between his arrival and when the NBA shut down in March, off the court, he, Snyder and his teammates are getting an opportunity to get to know each other in Orlando on a much deeper level than the grind of a more normal season allows.

Its been great, he said after Fridays game, referring to his growing relationship with Snyder. A lot of open dialogue, not even about basketball, about a lot of different stuff thats going on in the world, just everything. We sit down and talk. Us being in this environment, in this bubble, made us a lot closer, especially my teammates, just everybody.

Already known as the leader of the informal #GoodVibeTribe within Utahs roster, Clarkson said Friday that when he joined the Jazz, he was kind of laid-back, quiet, didnt really get to know any of the guys as much as I do now.

That has changed in a big way over the last month since nobody has anywhere else to be.

We spend a lot of time with each other, have a lot of conversations, have a lot of tough conversations, personal conversations, everything, so just really bringing everybody closer, he said. My relationship with coach is becoming very open and were always exchanging dialogue, so its becoming great.

Earlier this week, Utah forward Joe Ingles said during an episode of the Ingles Insight podcast with his wife, Renae, and team reporter Aaron Falk that getting to know Clarkson better has been one of the highlights of the bubble experience so far.

Me and JC, Jordan Clarkson, get along really well anyway, but being with him like every day, which I probably never thought I would really do, hes probably one of the greatest humans Ive ever been around, Ingles said. JC will be forever be one of my favorite teammates ever.

Falk echoed those sentiments.

Not knowing him very well, obviously a new addition to the team, but to see the way that he can interact with it feels like everybody, and hes so genuine that youre disarmed and he can have I think probably difficult conversations in a pretty breezy way and say things and make people understand them, not everyone can have that power, Falk said. I would put it on that hes a pretty important addition to the locker room, not even just on the court.

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One of the greatest humans Ive ever been around: Jordan Clarkson starting to thrive again - Deseret News

UConn will have three scholarships opening next spring, with forwards Tyler Polley, Josh Carlton and Isaiah Whaley all in their senior years. Diggins and Hawkins account for two, and could be the replacements if Bouknight, who is appearing in mock drafts, moves on to the NBA. UConns next recruiting target will probably be a frontcourt player, such as Samson Johnson, 6-10, who played with Adama Sanogo at the Patrick School in New Jersey. Once UConn fills the three spots, Hurley and his staff will be able to wait and see how the season plays out and what additional needs they will have from the Class of 2021. The nationwide recruiting battle has been brewing for 7-0 Bristol Central center Donovan Clingan, clearly a top UConn priority in the Class of 2022.

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Meet Jordan Hawkins: Things to know about the newest UConn mens basketball recruit - Hartford Courant

FLORENCE, S.C. The monthly meeting of the Florence County Republican Party will feature Statehouse candidates running in contested elections.

Expected to appear at 7 p.m. Tuesday are state Reps. Phillip Lowe and Wallace H. "Jay" Jordan Jr., plus state Senate candidate Leon Winn.

Lowe represents House District 60, which includes portions of south and west Florence. The district also includes southeastern Darlington County, including the town of Lamar.

He faces Democrat Teresa McGill Cain in the Nov. 3 general election.

Cain advanced to the general election by defeating La'Sha McClain.

Lowe did not face a primary opponent.

Jordan represents House District 63, which includes portions of west and south Florence.

He faces Democrat Isaac Wilson to retain his seat.

Neither Jordan nor Wilson faced a primary opponent.

Winn is running for the seat representing Senate District 36. That district includes small portions of western Florence and southeastern Darlington counties.

He faces incumbent Democrat Kevin L. Johnson.

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Phillip Lowe, Jay Jordan, Leon Winn to appear at Florence Republican meeting - SCNow

Not only is Jordan Fisherastoundingly talented, but hes also an absolutely delightful interview, oozing with passion and enthusiasm. And those also happen to be some of the pillars of his newest release, the Netflix dance movie, Work It. Fisher plays Jake Taylor, an incredibly skilled dancer whos bound to be one of the best of the best until he injures his knee. Dejected, he pulls back from competitive dancing, but when Quinn Ackerman (Sabrina Carpenter) approaches him with a proposal that reignites that fire in Jake, he considers helping her do the impossible taking down some of the most talented, experienced dance teams at the Work It competition with a crew of diamonds in the rough.

Image via Netflix

During our chat, Fisher offered up some advice for folks (like me) who are convinced they cant dance and also addressed the journey Jake goes on in the film, but he also took some time to discuss another big title on his resume Hamilton. Fisher took over the roles of John Laurens and Philip Hamilton from Anthony Ramos in November of 2016. Ever wonder what that role hand-off process is really like? Heres what Fisher said when I asked what advice he got from Ramos:

It rarely happens, to be honest with you. It just rarely happens. Unless somebody specifically comes to you and is like, Hey, can you give me some advice on the thing? Its usually just being lead by example. That is always the biggest takeaway that you can muster from that kind of scenario. Ant [Ramos] is one of the most talented people in the world, and always as an actor, as a writer, as a creative, hes remarkable. Especially in learning a role on Broadway, youre in rehearsal space by yourself all day with an associate choreographer and an associate director and then, youre at the theater in the evening and youre watching the show or you are trailing the person that you are replacing backstage. So youre basically following them all around backstage, seeing what their routes are, their timing, how long they stay here, how long they go here, how much time they have between this and that.

Image via Netflix

Given the fact that Hamilton was at peak popularity on Broadway at that point, one could imagine it had to be a high pressure situation for Fisher. However, this is where Ramos fun and chill approach to the hand-off came in handy big time when Fisher had to jump in feet first:

Thats what you need, especially in taking something on like that. This was at the height of its popularity when I joined the show. It was still a concert energy every night. And the night that I went on, the other two guys that covered my role both happened to be on stage that night as well in different roles, Ant was in LA, so at that point, I was the only person in New York City that could play the role. You have to just kind of thrust yourself on stage and just do it because you dont have another option, you know?

If youd like to hear even more about what it was like being part of Hamilton on Broadway, click here to find out what Emmy Raver-Lampman had to say about how Leslie Odom Jr. fought for the cast of the show. And for more on Work It from Fisher, check out the full interview at the top of this article! Weve also got a chat with Carpenter and Liza Koshyhere for you as well.Work It is available to watch on Netflix now!

Jordan Fisher:

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Work It Star Jordan Fisher Reveals How Hamilton Role Hand-Offs Work - Collider.com

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers' search for experienced tight end depth and Jordan Reed's search for a new home resulted in a reunion Monday afternoon.

That's when Reed and the Niners reached agreement on a contract to bring the tight end to the Bay Area, general manager John Lynch said. The deal is for one year and heavy on incentives for Reed, who has a lengthy concussion history.

In coming to San Francisco, Reed will be reunited with coach Kyle Shanahan, who worked as Washington's offensive coordinator from 2010 to 2013. Reed spent one season under Shanahan after Washington selected him in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft. Reed had 45 catches for 499 yards and three touchdowns in nine games that year before injuries ended his season.

Injuries have become a recurring theme for Reed during his career. He missed all of last season with a concussion, the seventh documented since he started playing college football. Because of various injuries, he has never played a full NFL season.

But the 49ers spent considerable time vetting Reed's health and feel comfortable with where he is as they open up training camp this week.

"In situations like this, there's a reason a guy like Jordan Reed is out there," Lynch said. "So there is some risk-reward. We got to a point where we felt like the risk that we're taking on was worth it with the potential reward."

For the Niners, Reed will get a chance to revive his career in an offense that has shown interest in finding a running mate to pair with George Kittle as it looks to deploy more multiple-TE sets than it has in the past three years under Shanahan. The 49ers made a play for Cleveland Browns tight end Austin Hooper in free agency and have kicked the tires on free-agent veteran Delanie Walker.

With Reed added to the mix, the 49ers' next piece of business at the position is getting a long-term contract done with Kittle. Kittle, who is set to make $2.133 million in the final year of his rookie contract, has reported for camp and spent time with Lynch and Shanahan on Monday.

While Lynch declined to offer a time frame or deadline for getting a contract with Kittle done, he and Shanahan expressed optimism that a resolution will come soon.

"It was great to see George again today, and no one has changed. I feel really good about this going forward, and I feel really optimistic about it," Shanahan said. "So hopefully something will happen sooner than later. Not too concerned about it, though."

Reed joins a tight end room that features Kittle but is otherwise mostly inexperienced. Ross Dwelley started six games last season and filled in for Kittle when he was injured, finishing with 15 catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns. The Niners also spent a sixth-round choice on Georgia's Charlie Woerner in the NFL draft in an effort to increase depth and create more competition at the position.

"I think everyone is aware of Jordan's ability," Shanahan said. "When he's been healthy, he's played at an extremely high level. He's been one of the best third-down tight ends in the league when healthy. ... I know he hasn't been on the field for a little bit. I know he's very hungry to get back out there. He hasn't got to do much of that lately."

Washington made Reed the focal point of its passing attack under former coach Jay Gruden. He responded with a big season in 2015 when he played a career-high 14 games. That season, Reed caught 87 passes for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns -- all personal bests.

After that season, Washington signed Reed to a five-year extension worth up to $50 million. But in the next three years, thanks to injuries, he averaged 49 catches per season with a combined 10 touchdowns.

Reed, who had struggled for two seasons because of ligament damage to his big toes, looked good in training camp last summer, but in the third preseason game, Reed came out of a helmet-to-helmet hit delivered by Atlanta Falcons safety Keanu Neal with a concussion.

He nearly returned for a Week 2 game against the Dallas Cowboys, but concussion symptoms returned late in the week. He was placed on injured reserve Oct. 14.

Reed has proved to be a mismatch for linebackers or safeties in particular, especially when aligned in the slot. Washington loved his ability to quickly win against a defender, making him an ideal target.

He caught 329 passes for 3,371 yards with 24 touchdowns for Washington.

ESPN's John Keim contributed to this report.

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49ers agree to deal with oft-injured TE Jordan Reed - ESPN

The once-exclusive-to-Japan Air Jordan 1 CO.JP Tokyo finally sees a global launch on August 7th.

While some sneaker enthusiasts may argue that better Jordans have released since this pairs original drop in 2001, whats undeniable is this iterations historical significance. Prior to the early 2000s, the Jordan 1 had only been outfitted in colorways from its inaugural 80s roster; therefore, Japan-exclusive pair effectively open the floodgates for some of the most beloved, sought-out arrangements of the last 19 years. Michael Jordans first signature sneaker has donned Neutral Grey, White, and Metallic Silver outfits before, but arguably none have captured the luster of this Japan Pack co-star. Despite not launching in an ultra-limited 2,001 quantity or Jordan 17-style briefcase, the retro arrives with nods to the special moment in Jordan Brands history behind the tongue and through its packaging.

Enjoy another look at the Jordan 1 CO.JP Tokyo here below, and find pairs available at Nike SNKRS on August 7th.

In other confirmed Jordan release dates, the Jordan 3 Denim launches stateside on August 27th.

Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG CO.JP TokyoRelease Date: August 7th, 2020$170/$130

Color: Neutral Grey/White/Metallic Silver

Style Code: DC1788-029 (Mens)Style Code: 575441-029 (Grade School)

Make sure to follow @kicksfinder for live tweets during the release date.

Where to Buy (After-Market)

Where To Buy

Where To Buy (GS)

Images: Sneaker Politics

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Where To Buy The Air Jordan 1 CO.JP Tokyo - Sneaker News

SAN FRANCISCO -- Jordan Spieth's quest to achieve the career Grand Slam at the PGA Championship was over well before his early Saturday tee time with Justin Thomas.

It was probably done on Thursday when he shot an opening-round 73 at Harding Park and needed to rally with a 68 on Friday just to make the cut on the number, which saw him get a tee time with his longtime rival and friend.

And all it took was six holes on Saturday to once again show how much the two players have gone in different directions since the last of Spieth's 11 PGA Tour victories occurred three years ago at The Open.

Spieth played them in 4 over; Thomas in 4 under.

In the end, Spieth shot 76 to plummet to the bottom of the leaderboard. Thomas had what he called a frustrating 68, one that he felt should have been lower and put him in contention to challenge for a second major title on Sunday.

Thomas is concerned with his own game, and has plenty to keep his mind occupied. But surely he noticed the struggles of the guy playing alongside him, the one who took the PGA Tour on full steam while Thomas languished without the same success. And it made the career Grand Slam talk seem a bit silly given Spieth's struggles, which have seen him drop outside of the top 60 in the world.

"Well, I think he wants to win any tournament,'' Thomas said. "I'm not saying this in a disrespectful way, but you guys probably think he wants to win it [the PGA] more than he does, you know what I mean? He wants to win any tournament like all of us do, and especially you want to win any major, this one is always going to be put on more of a pedestal than the other ones for him.

"I know he's going to be fine. I'm not just saying it because he's one of my best friends. I've just seen him get it around when he's not playing well. I've seen him play well when he is playing well. All of us go through little spurts. It's just for him, this has been a tough one. He's going to be fine.''

While Thomas spoke, Spieth had already made his way to the driving range. He spent considerable time there with caddie Michael Greller after his round on Thursday. There has been a lot of searching for months on end without results. Spieth's last top-three finish came at the PGA Championship in May of 2019.

"All it takes sometimes is one week and all your confidence gets back,'' Thomas said. "I think Brooks [Koepka] kind of spoke on that a little bit, but he just found something last week and obviously he's playing well again this week. So that's golf.''

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Jordan Spieth's 76 at PGA Championship Saturday puts Grand Slam out of reach - ESPN

The shoe that the NBA banned Michael Jordan from wearing 36 years ago is finally returning this weekend but it wont be easy to get.

Italian retailer Back Door Bottega on Instagram is currently hosting a raffle for a chance to buy the Nike Air Ship Pro when it releases tomorrow. Retail images show that the premium leather upper dons the iconic black and red or Bred color scheme inspired by the Chicago Bulls, while incorporating the original duo-lacing setup seen on the midfoot. The brand has given the classic shoe a modern twist by adding its latest React foam in the midsole and the sole unit of the classic Nike Pro Circuit tennis shoe.

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Since the inception of Jordans signature line in 1985, the brand has marketed the Air Jordan 1 High as the shoe that the NBA prohibited him from wearing but that ended up not being the case. It was the Nike Air Ship that caught the leagues attention when it debuted it in 1984 and every time MJ wore it on-court, the league fined him $5,000 that would be paid off by Nike.

Story continues

All can I say, is that I am really proud for the choice of the Jordan Brand to give me and my store Backdoor Bottega the exclusive premiere of this masterpiece, Back Door Bottega founder Marco Evangelisti said in a statement.

Although the shoe is dropping overseas, Jordan Brand has not yet confirmed that the reissue of the Nike Air Ship Banned will be seeing a wider release.

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Michael Jordans Nike Air Ship Sneakers Banned by the NBA 36 Years Ago Are Returning Soon - Yahoo Lifestyle